Electric-arc lamp



(No Model.)

F. G. WATERHOUSE.

ELECTRIC ARC LAMP. No. 274,999. Patented.Apr.3 ,1883

llllllllll Y 5 ill- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK. G. \VATERHOUSE, OF SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA.

ELECTRIC-ARC LAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 274,999, dated April 3, 1883.

Application filed August 24, 1882?.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK G. Warns HOUSE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sacramento city, in the county of Sacramento and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Lights; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to the letters or tigures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention consists in a novel combination of elements for effecting the production of the are and a feed of the carbons to compensate for combustion. Stated in general terms, my invention may be said to involve the following elements in combination, viz: an electro-magnet in the main circuit for actuating or lilting the carbon or :arbon-carrier to form the are; a clamp, clutch, stop, or equivalent mechanical device brought into action to limit the lifting movement of the lifting mechanism to stop its upward movement, and thus deter mine the length of are, and remaining in engagement with said mechanism d nring the normal feeding operation of the lamp, and a dc rived-circuit magnet, which, when energized, serves not only to bring about such engagement, but also, on further energization, to ctfect through suitable means the feed of the carbon, the parts being so adjusted that the move- .ments of the derived-circuit magnet core or armature in effecting the feed can take place without disturbing the clamp which limits the lilt of the main-circuit magnet. Under the organization herein described the function of the main-circuit magnet is confined to forming the are, the feed being effected solely by the action of the derived-circuit, magnet, the latter having also the additional function of determining the lil't of the main-circuit magnet by 3 causing a clamp or stop or equivalent device to limit the upward movement of the lifting mechanism. The elemental devices entering into the combination may be of any desired construction, provided they are combined or associated in the manner set forth. A pre- (No modchl l'erred combination of such elements devised by me I will now proceed to describe.

The drawing shows, in partial section and in partial elevation, a lamp embodying the invention.

A represents the frame of the lump; B, the coils of the main-circuit magnet, and O the coils of the derivedcircuit magnet. In the construction here shown the magnets have movable cores, as indicated. D indicates the carbon rod or carrier, which gears after a wellknown plan with a retardingtrain of wheels, the detent-wheel of which t *ain is indicated at I). The detent-lever is shown at (I. These parts are suitably supported from a sleeve, E, which encircles the carbon-carrier, and is in turn supported upon a lever pivoted on the floor of the casing and connected at its free end with the movable core of the main-circuit magnet in the manner shown, or in any other suitable manner, so that when the magnet is energized the sleeve E is lifted, carrying with it the retarding-train and the carbon-carrier.

Theinain-circuitmagnetBis ot'suchstrcngth that during ordinary fluctuations in the length of are, owing to combustion of the carbon, it can support the parts connected to it at the limit of their upward movement, the Feed being brought about by the action of the derivedcircnit magnet only, which removes the detent d in the manner to be presently described.

The upward limit of movement of the sleeve E and the connected parts is determined by a clamp or clutch, H, of any suitable construc tion for engaging with and stopping upward movement ot'the sleeve, which clamp is formed upon or connected to the lever], pivoted in a link rising from the floor ot' the casing. An overbalance, consisting of a weight, N, tilts the lever and causes the clutch to engage with the sleeve when the weight of the core 0 of the derived-circuit magnet is sutficiently removed from said lever by the lifting action of the magnet-coil (J. The core 0 is not connected to the clamp, but rests freely upon it when it is not attracted within its coils, and is of sufti cient weight to overcome the counter-balance V. An extension from the detent (1 projects over the core 0, so that when the latter is raised sufiiciently, or the sleeve E is allowed to drop to its lowest position, a pin in the upper end of the core will remove the detent from the detent-wheel I), so as to allow the carbon-carrier to feed.

The general operation is as follows: When no current is passing, the clutch or stop F is held out of engagement with the sleeve or support E by the weight of the core 0, and the carbons are in contact. \Vhen the current begins to flow the main-circuit magnet lifts the upper carbon, the latter being prevented from feeding by the detent d, which (the parts being properly adjusted or proportioned) comes into engagement with the wheel I) at the first stage of the upward movement. At the same time, as the carbons are in process of separation, the current in the derived-circuit coil increases, finally removing the weight of core 0 satficiently to allow the counter-balance \V to act and tilt the clutch-lever, so as to cause the clutch F to engage with the sleeve or support E for the retarding-train andt stop further upward movement thereof, thus determining the length of the arc. The detent (I still remains engaged, because the strength of the derivedcircuit magnet is insufticient as yet to lift the core 0 against said dctent, so as to release the wheel I). As the carbon burns away, however, the power of the derived-circuit magnet increases sutiiciently to lift the core away from the clutch-lever and release the detent to allow the feed to take place to a sufficient extent to restore the arc to its normal length, at which point the core 0 falls back to its normal position, the currents flowing in the main and derived circuit coils being then restored to their normal proportions. During this operation the magnet A holds the parts supported by it in the position assumed when the current first passes. Any abnormal length otarc will, however, allow said parts to drop. When the current ceases the parts are restored to their first position, the detent (Z in this movement coming down against the core 0 or the pin projecting therefronnso as to be released from the wheel and allow the carbon-carrier to descend.

Suitable stops are provided for limiting the movements of the parts.

I do not limit myself to the particular construction herein shown, and it is obvious that the retarding-train might be supported by other means in place of sleeve E, and the upward movement stopped or limited by other clamps, clutches, or stop devices brought into engagement or allowed to engage with the parts by which the carbon is lifted to form the are by the action of a derived-circuit magnet without departing from the spirit of the in- Vention.

It is also apparent that other forms of electro-magnets might be employed, and that other devices controlled by the derived-circuit magnet'might be used for releasing the carbon to allow it to feed.

hat I claim as my invention is- 1. The combination, in an electric lamp, of a main-circuit magnet acting upon suitable mechanism for forming the arc, a clamp or stop for limiting the movement or said mechanism, and a derived-circuit magnet controlling the limiting clamp or stop, and serving also to operate releasing devices to allow the carbon to feed.

2. The combination of a main-circuit magnet, a frame or support for the retarding-train operated thereby, a clamp or stop for engaging with and stopping the movement of said frame or support when actuated by the main-circuit magnet, and a derived-circuit magnet controt ling the clamp or stop.

S. The combination, in an electric lamp, of a main-circuit magnet, a frame or support for the train of wheels geared to the carboncarrier, a clamp or stop for engaging with and stopping the movement of said frame when actuated by the main-circuit magnet, a derived circuit magnet controlling the clamp or stop, and releasing devices for the train, also controlled by said derived-circuit magnet.

4-. The combination, with the carbon-carrier,

of the sleeve supporting the gear-train and connected to the main-circuit magnet, a pivot ed weighted clutch forengagingwith the sleeve and stopping its upward movement, and a dcrived-circuit magnet whose core rests upon the clutch-lever, as and for the purpose described.

The combination, with the sleeve or support for the retarding-train, ot' the main circuit magnet, the core of which is connected to the sleeve, a clamp arranged to stop the upward movement of the sleeve, and a derivedcircuitmagnet for controlling the clutch and also operating the releasing devices of the retarding-train.

6. The combination of a support for the retarding-train, amain-circuit magnet for lilting said support, a clutch for stopping the lifting movement, a derived-circuit magnet whose core is arranged above the clutch, so as to removesaid clutch from engagement with the support when no current is passing, and a detent for the retarding-train placed in the path of the derived-circuit magnet-core.

7. The combination of sleeve E, retardingtrain supported thereby, pivoted and weighted clutch-lever Hf, core 0, and detent d.

In testimony whereof I hereby aliix my nature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK t WATERHOUSE.

Witnesses:

MILTO -S. HALSEY, J. F. 11. Forums. 

